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ARCTIC WILDLIFE SAFARI, 10 DAY

TRIP CODE

ACPOSWS

DEPARTURE

29/05/2022, 06/06/2022

DURATION

10 Days

LOCATIONS

Spitsbergen INTRODUCTION

Experience the very best of the Arctic wilderness on this incredible 10 day expedition voyage. The famed Svalbard archipelago is home to a number of incredible experiences, isolated from the crowds of traditional cruises you will undertake a true expedition adventure. Search for unique wildlife including whales and the elusive polar bear all whilst zodiac cruising through isolated fjords and massive icebergs. Indulge in the unique Arctic history of the region as you visit unique trapper cabins and abandoned polar research stations.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrival in Longyearbyen

Welcome to Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Svalbard and starting point of our Arctic expedition! At the Longyearbyen airport, you will be greeted by our staﬀ and transferred to a quality hotel, which has been arranged by us and is included in the price of the itinerary. You will then be free to explore the charming, walkable town center. We recommend starting your discovery of this fascinating Norwegian High Arctic territory at the excellent Svalbard Museum, where you can also purchase hard-to-ﬁnd polar books and maps. Afterward, you can enjoy an excellent dinner at one of Longyearbyen’s many delightful restaurants. If you are still awake at midnight, you will notice the sun has not set. In fact, the sun will not set for the entire duration of our time in Svalbard.

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ACPOSWS DAY 2: Embarkation in Longyearbyen

After breakfast at your hotel, the morning is yours DEPARTURE to enjoy Longyearbyen. Take in the views of icy fjords and glaciated mountains surrounding this historic former coal-mining town. Take advantage 29/05/2022, 06/06/2022 of shopping for souvenirs or some last-minute necessities such as cold-weather gear. Just remember, you will soon receive your very own DURATION parka to keep and waterproof boots to borrow on board the ship. For lunch, Longyearbyen offers 10 Days quick and easy meal options including the most northerly pizzas and kebabs in the world. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the pier LOCATIONS where we will warmly welcome you aboard the deluxe expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Get settled in your spacious suite and explore the ship Spitsbergen that will be your comfortable home during the extraordinary adventure to come. After getting underway, a full schedule of events kicks off with informative briefings and introductions from your expedition staff. After the first of many delicious dinners on board, step out onto the open decks to admire the gorgeous scenery in 24-hour daylight as we pass through the wildlife-rich waters of Isfjorden.

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ACPOSWS DAY 3: West Spitsbergen and Polar Ice Edge - Day 3 to 9 DEPARTURE The itinerary for this voyage focuses on the spectacular fjords, coasts and islands of western Spitsbergen, the main island of the Svalbard 29/05/2022, 06/06/2022 archipelago. This area contains Svalbard’s most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Our exact schedule DURATION and route will be shaped by the weather and ice conditions we encounter. Polar bears and other 10 Days iconic Arctic animals can be spotted at anytime, anywhere in our area of exploration. One of the pristine natural areas on this itinerary is South LOCATIONS Spitsbergen National Park, a vast region of varied landscapes including polar deserts and impassible mountain ranges. The centerpiece of this park is Spitsbergen Hornsund, a picture-perfect fjord where countless mighty glaciers cascade from soaring mountaintops into icy inlets. At this time of year, we are sure to encounter fast ice—that is, sea ice that is fastened to the shore. This situation offers an excellent chance of observing polar bears on the hunt for ringed seals. The park also includes the southern shores of Bellsund, a picturesque bay where we find the remains of historical whaling operations, including wooden boats, cabins and thousands of whale bones—a scene from the distant past, literally frozen in time. This area also offers great hiking opportunities through landscapes rich with Arctic flora and birdlife, as well as fascinating geology. Also on our route is Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the crown jewel of Svalbard’s scenic wonders. Here we find deep fjords flanked by serrated mountain peaks and immense tidewater glaciers calving icebergs into turquoise waters. The whole area is alive with migratory Arctic seabirds. On this voyage, we are just in time to witness the return of millions of murres, guillemots and little auks to the small islands, mountainsides and sea cliffs where they breed within the park. This is also a great area to encounter marine mammals, including various kinds of whales and Arctic seals. Set among this incredible scenery and wildlife activity, we also find evidence of Svalbard’s earliest sealers and whalers. Our area of exploration also includes gorgeous Forlandet National Park. Here we find Prins Karls Forland, one of the best places in Svalbard to observe herds of walrus hauled out on land. Also along the route is North Isforden National Park, where we have the chance to observe endemic Svalbard reindeer grazing and Arctic fox romping in lush tundra meadows. Human habitation along our route can be found at Ny Ålesund, a former mining town and airship base that is now home to an international community of Arctic researchers. This is one of the world’s most northerly settlements where we find a museum, gift shop and post office. The West Spitsbergen and Polar Ice Edge route offers a stunning variety of Arctic landscapes and animals with minimal sailing time between excursions. Every day offers something new and exciting. We will not miss a single opportunity to encounter amazing Arctic wildlife, to witness incredible polar scenery, and to walk in the footsteps of historic expeditions that came before.

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ACPOSWS

DAY 10: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen DEPARTURE

After ﬁlling up with one last buﬀet breakfast on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen. We 29/05/2022, 06/06/2022 provide transfers to the airport or to the town center in case you plan to stay longer in Svalbard. DURATION By this time, you may already be making plans for your next amazing trip with us into the polar worlds! 10 Days

LOCATIONS

INCLUSIONS & DETAILS Spitsbergen

Accommodation Cabin on board ship

Cabin accommodation on board vessel All meals on board Leadership and guiding by experienced expedition staﬀ All scheduled landings and excursions by zodiac Complimentary waterproof boots for duration of voyage Expedition parka (yours to keep) Inclusions Exclusions International ﬂight Visa and reciprocity fees (if applicable) Travel insurance Personal expenses such telecommunications Any adventure options not listed as included

Diﬃculty Rating 2 (light adventure)

Single Surcharge Available upon request, contact us for more details.

Please note this itinerary is subject to change depending Notes on weather and ice conditions.

Price Dependent upon Departure date, seasonality and availability

SUSTAINABILITY

Being environmentally accountable is a crucial part of our organisation. Chimu is currently striving towards using less paper, taking several initiatives to do so and tracking our progress along the way. Our goal: A paperless organisation. For this reason, all information given to you will be sent electronically. We encourage those who choose to travel with us to support our aspirations and actions and ask that you reconsider printing out documentation. To view these documents, you can download them to your iPad or portable computer before and during your trip.

Chimu is passionate and dedicated to sustainability measures and understands the crucial

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ACPOSWS part sustainability plays within the tourism industry. DEPARTURE We use local guides and office staff to both maximise local employment opportunities and minimise carbon footprint. Local guides also ensure you benefit from the intimate 29/05/2022, 06/06/2022 knowledge, passion and culture of the country you’re visiting. Our guides are all highly qualified (most with university degrees) or equip with many years of experience and are paid above the standard wage. Whether it be our knowledgeable local guides, locally DURATION produced meals or the transport on tour, we do not use imported goods when local products are available. We aim to minimise our impact on the environment and give as 10 Days much back as possible to the communities we work in. LOCATIONS While visiting the many national parks, heritage sites, museums and landmarks our travellers are encouraged to explore whilst remaining culturally aware and sensitive. We Spitsbergen further encourage you to buy appropriate souvenirs and discourage the buying of anything wrongfully made or taken from the environment i.e. shells and endangered species products. Information on how you can be environmentally conscious, and travel responsibly will be made available in our Travellers Guides and provided during your travels by guides and staff.

For more information on our sustainability policies, including how we are striving towards being a paperless organisation, click HERE